The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly eyeing a takeover of one of two top clubs in the Premier League amid Newcastle United's on-field struggles.
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Saudi Arabia is reportedly targeting investment opportunities in either Liverpool or Chelsea, as interest in English football continues to grow.
According to Statista, Liverpool boast an enterprise value of €4.2 billion (R80 billion), but any entity looking to initiate an aggressive takeover would likely need to offer significantly more than that figure.
With the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) believed to hold assets worth about €854.4 billion (R16.3 trillion), acquiring Liverpool would represent relatively small change for them.
Additionally, The Independent has highlighted Chelsea as another potential acquisition for the PIF.
However, a controlling investment in either club would likely require the Saudis to relinquish their stake in Newcastle United.
The purchase of the Magpies, coupled with a lack of on-field success, has not generated the positive press the Saudis had hoped for in their region. Thus, targeting one of England's traditional giants appears to be a strategic move.
Negotiations for Chelsea would not be straightforward as Behdad Eghbali, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are known to be tough negotiators.
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Given this context, the Saudis may find Liverpool, a club with a rich history and immense global appeal, to be a more attainable target at this stage.
